Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-03
A NEW RIFLE SYSTEM
An Invention Which Has Been Made
BY an Augusta Marksman

Mr. James A. Fairbanks has recently re-.
turned from trip to Massachusetts where he
went to visit the leading marksmen of tha,
state ana to see what kind of sights they used
what advantageif any they had
over those in use among our own rifemen. A
journal reporter saw Mr.. Fairbanks yester-
oay and inquired concerning the trip, and the
results Of his observation.
II had noticed for some time prior
to my trip" said Mr. Fairbanks
IN reply to the Scribe's queries that
general interest in military rife prac-
'ice was springing up. This was indicated in
the general reports from all sections of the
country In Massachusetts the incentive to
this interest has been the great success OF
their team at Creedmore and its subsequen,
participation in the international shoot a,
Chicago. spent most of my time in Massa-
chusetts in looking up the different sights used
by the best marksmen. The Maine Militia
nave been using the government regulation
sight But the sight used by the leading
last year by Major Buffinton of the
regular army and called after him the
Buffinton sight. This sight has been adopt
ed by the government and is now used in
all the new rifles manufactured at the Ma
tional armory at Springfield. Another sight
which is used with good effect is the veneer
wind-guage and spirit level sight manufac-
turcd by +. bennington Sons When thi.
sight is used however on military rifles they
are classed as specials
There seems to be a need of improve.
ment then upon the old military rifes?'.
''Yes, this has been recognized by a num-
Der Of marksmen, and w. VI. Farrou Of the
Massachusetts, State rifle team, who has
recognized from his long experience at Creed
more the need of new military rife system
has invented system of his own and i,
actively preparing for its manufacture in the
hopes of having upon the market the coming
season
you have been doing work in this direction
have you not?"
"Yes, have given this matter great deal
of thought and careful attention. In study
ing into the mechanism of rifles, | have
cared nothing for the old methods, nor have
| permitted them to direct in any degree ms
course of investigation. | believe the
modern rifle will be vast improvement up
on the old. As result of my researches
have invented a sight and a rifle of my own
which think will be the best system for a
military rifle which has yet appeared. 1t is
of course radically different from anything
which has gone before. The sight which
shall put on my military rifle smbodies all
the improvements which have found in the
best military sights. My aim in this work
has been to get the action as near perfect as
possible-that is to make the time from the
dsengagng of the seer to the fall of the
the time from the pulling of the trigger to
the discharge almost instantaneous man il
enabled to make the most perfect score he
is capable of. Breaking away from
tHt ON system hlHb tDdblts nv 10 give u
much longer barrel without extending the
length of the arm than any other action now
on the market, and again the shortening of
the action gives the marksman great advan-
tage in a wind. intend now to put my whole
time onto the manufacture of my wrenches
and this improved rifle and sight"
You have been testing different sights nj
the range, have you mott"
Yes, Captain Choate the brigade inspector
of rifle practice and myself have been testing
different sights for the past few days merely
to acqunnt ourselves with their relative
merits"
You feel of course that your new military
rifle system is ahead of anything that
has yet been produced in that line?"
yes am confident that it is. 1t i, 40 en-
tircly and radically different from anything
that has preceded it, that any merits it pos
scsses will be exclusively its own. shall
get onto the work of manufacturing these
rifles just Ms soon as possible, and then they
will speak for themselves"